Latest news with #APMarkfed
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh Markfed steps in to procure tobacco amidst farmer protests
Ongole: The Andhra Pradesh govt has launched a procurement drive for tobacco through AP Markfed at three auction centers in Prakasam district, amidst a serious crisis and protests by tobacco farmers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The move comes after farmers produced approximately 80 million kilograms of black burley tobacco in Guntur, Prakasam, Bapatla, and Nellore districts, and were struggling to sell their crop due to a lack of demand from traders. The state govt has decided to depute AP Markfed to procure tobacco, particularly black burley, taking into consideration the demands of tobacco growers. However, the govt has not taken any decision to bail out FCV (Virginia) tobacco growers, who are also struggling with poor prices offered by traders, and is instead anticipating that the Centre and Tobacco Board will initiate measures to help them. The crisis in the tobacco industry has been triggered by a massive production of white and black burley tobacco by farmers, who had hoped to reap rich dividends due to high demand for FCV tobacco last year. However, the prices of FCV tobacco plummeted to as low as Rs 220 per kilogram due to poor export orders, leaving farmers in a difficult situation. Notwithstanding the low demand for FCV in the international market, the big exporters reported to have honored their commitments with regard to white burley and picked up almost 60mkg stock by mid-May itself. However, the traders refused to pick up black burley as there was no utility for the leaf. The protests by tobacco growers, particularly in Prakasam district, have been intense, with local TDP legislators facing the brunt of the farmers' anger. The legislators have been exerting pressure on the govt to intervene and help the farmers, leading to the decision to deploy AP Markfed for procurement. AP Markfed district manager Karunasri has stated that the procurement drive will be completed within a fortnight. However, it remains unclear how Markfed will dispose of the stock and to whom. The government's decision to procure tobacco has provided some relief to farmers, but the long-term solution to the crisis in the tobacco industry remains uncertain.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Andhra govt 'failed' tenant farmers, alleges YSRCP leader
Amaravati, YSRCP leader K Nageswara Rao on Wednesday accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of "abandoning" tenant farmers ahead of the Kharif season. The former minister stated that over 32 lakh tenant farmers, nearly 80 per cent of Andhra's agricultural workforce, are allegedly suffering due to the cancellation of tenant cards and the withdrawal of vital support. "Naidu's focus is on Amaravati, not on farmers," said Rao in a release, claiming that tenant farmers now rely on private loans with up to five per cent interest, plunging deeper into debt. During the tenure of former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, 26 lakh farmers received tenant cards, and over ₹8,300 crore in crop loans were extended, benefiting seven lakh tenant farmers, said Rao. Additionally, over ₹752 crore was provided as investment support to Scheduled Castes , Scheduled Tribes , Backward Classes , and minority farmers, while insurance and compensation schemes protected lakhs of farmers, he asserted. The former YSRCP government also procured damaged crops, bought rain-soaked paddy, and stabilized tobacco prices with ₹500 crore through Markfed, said Rao in the release. A P Markfed , is a federation of Marketing Cooperative Societies in the district with the main object of helping the farmers to secure better price for their produce by taking care of their market needs and providing agricultural inputs. Now, the Crop Cultivator Rights Card process has allegedly been stalled, the Annadata Sukheebhava scheme has been ignored, and farmers lack investment aid, facing mounting losses as the Kharif season nears, Rao alleged. He also claimed that tobacco prices have crashed, with companies rejecting produce, while farmers face losses on 80,000 acres of Burley tobacco. Rao urged immediate procurement through the Tobacco Board and called on Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to seek the Centre's help for relief to distressed farmers.
